08/05/20: The first ever World Fives Day was a huge success with over £3000 raised for the Felix Project.
Held on Tuesday - the fifth day of the fifth month - the event gave the Fives community an opportunity to celebrate the sport despite not currently being able to play it. Photos old and new were shared, homemade versions of Fives recorded, paintings painted, collages made and all were shared across social media with the hastags #worldfivesday, #fivesforfelix and #postfivesdonatefives.
For every post, a donation was made to this year's chosen charity, the Felix Project, a charity with close ties to the Fives community and one which is doing magnificent work taking surplus food from suppliers and delivering it to any charity that helps feed people. It's all nutritious and would otherwise go to waste. Not only that, but it helps fight food poverty and reduces costs for hardworking organisations. The total raised this year was £3051 - far exceeding expectations - which rises to £3,736.38 including Gift Aid. Isabella White, Community and Challenge Events Fundraiser for the Felix Project, described the amount raised as \"truly incredible\".
The brainchild of EFA director Emily Scoones, it is hoped that the event will become an annual one. There were contributions this year from Switzerland, Nigeria and the USA (putting the world in World Fives Day!) and hopefully next year the idea can spread further to encompass all varieties of Fives and other handball games.